Cooling module and helmet having same

ABSTRACT

A helmet includes a shell and a cooling module attached to the shell. The cooling module includes a heat pipe, a thermoelectric cooler, and a film type solar cell. The shell has an outer surface and an inner surface. The heat pipe is embedded in the shell and includes an evaporating section and a condensing section. The thermoelectric cooler includes a cold end brought into contact with the condensing section of the heat pipe, a hot end exposed to the exterior of the shell, and an array of N-type semiconductor elements and an P-type semiconductor elements electrically connected in serial sandwiched between the cold end and the hot end. The film type solar cell is provided on the outer surface of the shell and electrically connected with the thermoelectric cooler and used for supplying electric energy to the thermoelectric cooler. A cooling module is also included in the invention.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to helmets and, more particularly, to a helmet having a cooling module.

2. Description of Related Art

Helmets are worn by competitors in various forms of athletic contents such as football, hockey, and vehicle racing. They are also worn for protection by individuals engaged in the construction field and also in other dangerous fields of work such as the military. During such athletic competition or construction work considerable body heat is generated which reflects itself in discomfort to the wearer of the helmet and not uncommonly results in a physical condition, sometimes fatal, known as hyperthermia. The performance of such activities in an environment where elevated temperatures prevail is known to cause or aggravate this condition.

What is needed, therefore, is a helmet having a cooling module.

SUMMARY

In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, a helmet includes a shell and a cooling module attached to the shell. The cooling module includes at least a heat pipe, at least thermoelectric cooler, and a film type solar cell. The shell has an outer surface and an inner surface. The heat pipe is embedded in the shell and includes an evaporating section and a condensing section. The at least the thermoelectric cooler includes a cold end brought into contact with the condensing section of at least the heat pipe, a hot end exposed to the exterior of the shell, and an array of N-type semiconductor elements and an P-type semiconductor elements electrically connected in serial sandwiched between the cold end and the hot end. The film type solar cell is provided on the outer surface of the shell and electrically connected with the at least one thermoelectric cooler and used for supplying electric energy to the at least one thermoelectric cooler.

In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a cooling module includes at least a heat pipe, at least thermoelectric cooler, and a film type solar cell. The shell has an outer surface and an inner surface. The heat pipe includes an evaporating section and a condensing section. The at least thermoelectric cooler includes a cold end brought into contact with the condensing section of at least the heat pipe, a hot end, and an array of N-type semiconductor elements and an array P-type semiconductor elements electrically connected in serial sandwiched between the cold end and the hot end. The film type solar cell is electrically connected with the at least one thermoelectric cooler and used for supplying electric energy to the at least one thermoelectric cooler.

Advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present helmet and cooling module, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present cooling module and helmet having the same can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present cooling module and helmet having the same. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a helmet in accordance with a preferred embodiment, wherein the helmet includes a thermoelectric cooler;

FIG. 2 is a schematic, plan view of the helmet in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the thermoelectric cooler of the helmet in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe preferred embodiments of the present molding apparatus.

FIGS. 1 to 2 illustrate a helmet 100 in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The helmet 100 is useful for athletes, drivers, workers, etc. The helmet 100 includes a shell 102, a visor 104 and a cooling module 12.

The shell 102 has a front side 1022, a rear side 1024 and a top side 1026 corresponding to a wearer's face, rear side of head and top side of head, respectively. The front side 1022 of the shell 102 has a view window 1028, which exposes at least a portion of the wearer's face. The visor 104 is attached to the shell 102 by at least a screw 106 and configured for protecting eyes and face from blowing.

The cooling module 12 includes a heat pipe 122, a thermoelectric cooler 124, a heat sink 126 and a solar cell 128. The heat pipe 122 is embedded in the shell 102. The heat pipe 122 has a condensing section 1224 which extends from the top side 1026 to the rear side 1024 and an evaporating section 1222 which connects with the evaporating section 1222 at the top side 1026 and extends throughout the shell 102. The heat pipe 122 can be selected from the group consisting of tube-type heat pipe, flat heat pipe etc. The heat pipe 122 has a hollow cavity 1226 formed therein and a work fluid 1228 is filled with the hollow cavity 1226. The hollow cavity 1226 extends from the evaporating section 1222 to the condensing section 1224.

The thermoelectric cooler 124 includes a cold end 1242, a hot end 1246 and thermoelectric elements 1244 sandwiched therebetween. The cold end 1242 is brought into contact with the condensing section 1224 of the heat pipe 122. In the preferred embodiment, the condensing section 1224 is inserted in the cold end 1242. The heat sink 126 is fixed on the hot end 1246 and exposed to an exterior of the shell 102. The heat sink 126 is configured for dissipating heat emitted from the hot end 1246. The solar cell 128 has two electrodes (see anode 1282 and cathode 1284 in FIG. 3) and the two electrodes are electrically connected with the thermoelectric cooler 124 by two conductors 130, and thus form an electric current loop. The solar cell 128 is configured for supplying electric energy to the thermoelectric cooler 124. The solar cell 128 is a semiconductor device that can transform light into electric energy. In the preferred embodiment, the solar cell 128 is a film type solar cell, for example Amorphous Si solar cell, poly-Si solar cell, CuInSe₂ solar cell, GeCd solar cell and TiO₂ solar cell etc. The film type solar cell is light and bendable so that the solar cell 128 can be fixed on the outer surface of the shell 102 by adhesive or with a bolt.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the thermoelectric cooler 124 is a solid-state heat pump that operates on the Peltier effect. The thermoelectric elements 1244 include an array of N-type semiconductors element 1248 and an array of P-type semiconductor elements 1250 electrically connected in series by electric bars 132 and thermally connected in parallel. The array of N-type semiconductor elements 1248 and the array of P-type semiconductor elements 1250 are then affixed to the cold end 1242 and the hot end 1246. The solar cell 128 is electrically connected with the two ends of the array of N-type semiconductor elements 1248 and the array of P-type semiconductor elements 1250 in series. Thus, a series circuit is achieved between the solar cell 128, the array of N-type semiconductor elements 1248 and the array of P-type semiconductor elements 1250. The array of N-type semiconductor elements 1248 and the array of P-type semiconductor elements 1250 form a thermocouple. The thermocouple can transfer heat from the cold end 1242 to the hot end 1246, so that heat emitted from the condensing section 1224 of the heat pipe 122 that is inserted in the cold end 1242 can be dissipated in time. Generally, a material of the cold end 1242 and the hot end 1246 can be ceramics.

The helmet 100 can emit heat produced by the wearer's body efficiently so that make the wearer feel comfortable based on the cooling module 12 including the heat pipe 122, the thermoelectric cooler 124 and the heat sink 126. Also, the electric energy that the thermoelectric cooler 124 needed is supplied by the film type solar cell 128, which is cheap and environmentally friendly.

It is to be understood that any number of the heat pipe 122 can be present (e.g., two, three etc). Also, when the heat pipe 122 can be a tube-type heat pipe or a plurality of tube-type heat pipes arranged side by side. The number of the thermoelectric cooler 124 and the heat sink 126 can be more than one, and still be within the scope of the preferred embodiment.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A helmet comprising: a shell having an outer surface and an inner surface and a cooling module attached to the shell, the cooling module comprising: at least one heat pipe embedded in the shell, the at least one heat pipe comprising an evaporating section and a condensing section; at least one thermoelectric cooler comprising a cold end brought into contact with the condensing section of the at least a heat pipe, a hot end exposed to an exterior of the shell, and an array of N-type semiconductor elements and an array of P-type semiconductor elements electrically connected in serial sandwiched between the cold end and the hot end; and a film type solar cell provided on the outer surface of the shell and electrically connected with the at least one thermoelectric cooler, for supplying electric energy to the at least one thermoelectric cooler.
 2. The helmet as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one heat pipe is selected from the group consisting of a tube-type heat pipe, and a flat heat pipe.
 3. The helmet as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the hot end and the cold end is comprised of ceramics.
 4. The helmet as described in claim 1, wherein the solar cell is selected from the group consisting of Amorphous Si solar cell, poly-Si solar cell, CuInSe₂ solar cell, GeCd solar cell and TiO₂ solar cell.
 5. The helmet as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one heat pipe is inserted in the cold end of the at least one thermoelectric cooler.
 6. A cooling module for use in a helmet, comprising: at least one heat pipe embedded in the shell, the at least one heat pipe comprising an evaporating section and a condensing section; at least one thermoelectric cooler comprising a cold end brought into contact with the condensing section of the at least a heat pipe, a hot end, and an array of N-type semiconductor elements and an array of P-type semiconductor elements electrically connected in serial sandwiched between the cold end and the hot end; and a film type solar cell electrically connected with the at least one thermoelectric cooler, for supplying electric energy to the at least one thermoelectric cooler.
 7. The cooling module as described in claim 6, wherein the at least one heat pipe is selected from the group consisting of a tube-type heat pipe, and a flat heat pipe.
 8. The cooling module as described in claim 6, wherein at least one of the hot end and the cold end is comprised of ceramics.
 9. The cooling module as described in claim 6, wherein the solar cell is selected from the group consisting of Amorphous Si solar cell, poly-Si solar cell, CuInSe₂ solar cell, GeCd solar cell and TiO₂ solar cell.
 10. The cooling module as described in claim 6, wherein the at least one heat pipe is inserted in the cold end of the at least one thermoelectric cooler. 